Magnetic city : a walking companion to New York

**From __New York__ magazine’s architecture critic, a walking and reading guide to New York City—a historical, cultural, architectural, and personal approach to seven neighborhoods throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, including six essays that help us understand the evolution of the city** For nearly a decade, Pulitzer Prize–winning critic Justin Davidson has explained the ever-changing city of New York to his readers at __New York__ magazine, introducing new buildings, interviewing architects, tracking the way the transforming urban landscape shapes who New Yorkers are. Now, his extensive, inspiring knowledge will be available to a wide audience. An insider’s guide to the architecture and planning of New York that includes maps, photographs, and original insights from the men and women who built the city and lived in it—its designers, visionaries, artists, writers—__Magnetic City__ offers first-time visitors and lifelong residents a new way to see New York. **Includes walking tours throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx** • the Financial District • the World Trade Center • the Seaport and the Brooklyn waterfront • Chelsea and the High Line • 42nd Street • the Upper West Side • the South Bronx and Sugar Hill**Praise for __Magnetic City__**“[Justin Davidson] combines a keen intelligence, experience, observational skills, expertise (especially but not solely architectural), and an elegant writing style to make this beautifully produced book indispensable.”**—__Booklist__ (starred review)**“A street-level celebration of New York City in all ‘its perpetual complexity and contradiction’ . . . A worthy companion to Alfred Kazin’s __A Walker in the City__ and the American Institute of Architects guides to the architecture of New York as well as a treat for fans of the metropolis.”**—__Kirkus Reviews__ (starred review)**“In this exquisitely crafted book, Justin Davidson does more than direct our feet to New York’s hidden monuments. He explains the structure of the city with a clarity that would be bracing even for a Gotham habitué, but more than that, he finds the meaning in every building and byway.”**—Andrew Solomon, National Book Award-winning author of __Far from the Tree__**“Mr. Davidson’s exceptional knowledge of our beloved city is inspiring. __Magnetic City__ is now my official chaperone.”**—Patti LuPone**“Justin Davidson has a mind alive to every signal, and his brilliant prose style transmits that electricity in black-and-white type. He is thus born to the task of capturing the chaotic splendor of New York City on the page.”**—Alex Ross, author of __Listen to This__**“Justin Davidson’s beautiful tours of New York City invoke and redouble our love of the metropolis. His observations of landmarks, in-between places, and layered histories, delivered by an amazing kindred-spirit of architecture, make us feel like royal presences in the city.”**—Jerry Saltz, senior art critic, __New York__**“A fascinating and insightful companion for a walking tour of New York City. I particularly enjoyed the rich interweaving of the contemporary and the historical. A book worthy of the 21st century flaneur!”**—Daniel Libeskind** From New York magazine’s architecture critic, a walking and reading guide to New York City—a historical, cultural, architectural, and personal approach to seven neighborhoods throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, including six essays that help us understand the evolution of the city For nearly a decade, Pulitzer Prize–winning critic Justin Davidson has explained the ever-changing city of New York to his readers at New York magazine, introducing new buildings, interviewing architects, tracking the way the transforming urban landscape shapes who New Yorkers are. Now, his extensive, inspiring knowledge will be available to a wide audience. An insider’s guide to the architecture and planning of New York that includes maps, photographs, and original insights from the men and women who built the city and lived in it—its designers, visionaries, artists, writers— Magnetic City offers first-time visitors and lifelong residents a new way to see New York. Includes walking tours throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx • the Financial District • the World Trade Center • the Seaport and the Brooklyn waterfront • Chelsea and the High Line • 42nd Street • the Upper West Side • the South Bronx and Sugar Hill Praise for Magnetic City “[Justin Davidson] combines a keen intelligence, experience, observational skills, expertise (especially but not solely architectural), and an elegant writing style to make this beautifully produced book indispensable.” — Booklist (starred review) “A street-level celebration of New York City in all ‘its perpetual complexity and contradiction’ . . . A worthy companion to Alfred Kazin’s A Walker in the City and the American Institute of Architects guides to the architecture of New York as well as a treat for fans of the metropolis.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “In this exquisitely crafted book, Justin Davidson does more than direct our feet to New York’s hidden monuments. He explains the structure of the city with a clarity that would be bracing even for a Gotham habitué, but more than that, he finds the meaning in every building and byway.” —Andrew Solomon, National Book Award-winning author of Far from the Tree “Mr. Davidson’s exceptional knowledge of our beloved city is inspiring. Magnetic City is now my official chaperone.” —Patti LuPone “Justin Davidson has a mind alive to every signal, and his brilliant prose style transmits that electricity in black-and-white type. He is thus born to the task of capturing the chaotic splendor of New York City on the page.” —Alex Ross, author of Listen to This “Justin Davidson’s beautiful tours of New York City invoke and redouble our love of the metropolis. His observations of landmarks, in-between places, and layered histories, delivered by an amazing kindred-spirit of architecture, make us feel like royal presences in the city.” —Jerry Saltz, senior art critic, New York “A fascinating and insightful companion for a walking tour of New York City. I particularly enjoyed the rich interweaving of the contemporary and the historical. A book worthy of the 21st century flaneur!” —Daniel Libeskind From New York magazines architecture critic, a walking and reading guide to New York Citya historical, cultural, architectural, and personal approach to seven neighborhoods throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, including six essays that help us understand the evolution of the city For nearly a decade, Pulitzer Prizewinning critic Justin Davidson has explained the ever-changing city of New York to his readers at New York magazine, introducing new buildings, interviewing architects, tracking the way the transforming urban landscape shapes who New Yorkers are. Now, his extensive, inspiring knowledge will be available to a wide audience. An insiders guide to the architecture and planning of New York that includes maps, photographs, and original insights from the men and women who built the city and lived in itits designers, visionaries, artists, writers Magnetic City offers first-time visitors and lifelong residents a new way to see New York. Includes walking tours throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx the Financial District the World Trade Center the Seaport and the Brooklyn waterfront Chelsea and the High Line 42nd Street the Upper West Side the South Bronx and Sugar Hill Praise for Magnetic City An intimate, seductive guidebook. TheNew York Times An enthralling new book makes clear that Im not alone in my home-town infatuation . . .lends nuance, texture and historical perspective to my impression that New York City has never been so appealing or life-affirming as it is today. New York Post [Davidson]combines a keen intelligence, experience, observational skills, expertise (especially but not solely architectural), and an elegant writing style to make this beautifully produced book indispensable. Booklist (starred review) A street-level celebration of New York City in all its perpetual complexity and contradiction . . . a worthy companion to Alfred Kazins A Walker in the City and the American Institute of Architects guides to the architecture of New York as well as a treat for fans of the metropolis. Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Justin Davidson does more than direct our feet to New Yorks hidden monuments. He explains the structure of the city with a clarity that would be bracing even for a Gotham habitu, but more than that, he finds the meaning in every building and byway. Andrew Solomon, National Book Award-winning author of Far from the Tree Mr. Davidsons exceptional knowledge of our beloved city is inspiring. Magnetic City is now my official chaperone. Patti LuPone Justin Davidson has a mind alive to every signal, and his brilliant prose style transmits that electricity in black-and-white type. He is thus born to the task of capturing the chaotic splendor of New York City on the page. Alex Ross, author of Listen to This Justin Davidsons beautiful tours of New York City invoke and redouble our love of the metropolis. Jerry Saltz, senior art critic, New York For Nearly A Decade, Pulitzer Prize-winning Critic Justin Davidson Has Explained New York, The City, To His Readers At New York, The Magazine. He Has Visited New And Preserved Buildings, Explored Neighborhoods In Mid-transformation; Interviewed Architects, Developers, And Urban Thinkers; And Tracked The City's Constant Change. Now, He Distills Those Experiences Into Magnetic City, An Ambler's Guide To New York--the City Around Us, The One That's Lost, And The One That's Still To Come. Essayistic In Form, Historical In Scope, And Filled With References To Literature, Music, Art, And Architecture, Magnetic City Offers First-time Visitors And Lifelong Residents A New Way To See New York-- Walk I: City Of Money (financial District) -- Interlude I: City Of Streets -- Walk Ii: Liquid City (seaport, Governors Island, & Brooklyn Waterfront) -- Walk Iii: The City Reborn (world Trade Center) -- Interlude Ii: City Of Towers -- Walk Iv: The City Transformed (west Chelsea & The High Line) -- Walk V: City Of Ideals (42nd Street From Bryant Park To The Un) -- Interlude Iii: City Of Glass -- Walk Vi: City Of Nostalgia (the Upper West Side) -- Interlude Iv: City Of Apartments -- Walk Vii: City Of Dreams (sugar Hill & South Bronx) -- Finale: City Of Memory. Justin Davidson. A Spiegel & Grau Trade Paperback Original--title Page Verso. Includes Index. "For nearly a decade, Pulitzer prize-winning critic Justin Davidson has explained New York, the city, to his readers at 'New York,' the magazine. He has visited new and preserved buildings, explored neighborhoods in mid-transformation; interviewed architects, developers, and urban thinkers; and tracked the city's constant change. Now, he distills those experiences into 'Magnetic City,' an ambler's guide to New York -- the city around us, the one that's lost, and the one that's still to come. Essayistic in form, historical in scope, and filled with references to literature, music, art, and architecture, 'Magnetic City' offers first-time visitors and lifelong residents a new way to see New York."-- Provided by publisher Walk I. City of Money : the Financial District Interlude I. City of Streets Walk II. Liquid City : the Seaport, Governors Island, and the Brooklyn Waterfront Walk III. The City Reborn : the World Trade Center Interlude II. City of Towers : the Skyline Walk IV. The City Transformed : West Chelsea and the High Line Walk V. City of Ideals : Forty-second Street from Bryant Park to the UN Interlude III. City of Glass Walk VI: City of Nostalgia : the Upper West Side Interlude IV. City of Apartments Walk VII. City of Dreams : Sugar Hill and the South Bronx Finale : City of Memory.