The 17th incarnation of Where to Find It, Buy It, Eat It in New York delivers a satisfying march forward as well as a rearward glance at over thirty years of schlepping luggage to and from my home state of Oregon to seek out haunts that inspire this New York-ophile. I’ve translated copious notes into these pages. In so doing, I’ve made new friends, kept in touch with valued allies of longstanding, and searched high and low for the best, the most esoteric, the most affordable, the most unique, and sometimes the trendiest goods and services found in Manhattan.
This is the most complete guide to Manhattan. Since the first edition in 1980, I have concentrated on Manhattan which offers residents and tourists a powerful punch. Still in love with my adopted city, I remain insatiably curious about the latest worthwhile retail stores, accommodations, services, restaurants, and museums, and I always experience great anticipation upon landing at LaGuardia, Kennedy, or Newark’s Liberty Airport. Hitting the ground running in search of all these things has been my modus operandi since my soul was first stirred by New York City during childhood visits.
My efforts have been rewarded through the sale of over 1 million copies of Where to Find It, Buy It, Eat It in New York. Over the last 30 years, I’ve witnessed the transformation of Manhattan, which has been intensified by its ongoing tradition as our country’s ultimate cultural melting pot. You will find every ethnicity under the sun scattered among the concrete high-rises and tenements. The neighborhood and district boundaries have become blurred, and the celebration of an amalgamated society is the norm. Contemporary New York is much safer and more casual in its expectations and acceptance. Certainly many businesses have met their demise, but there are positive signals that this too shall pass. Native New Yorkers have told me over the years how much they rely on Where to Find It, . . . , often referring to it as their Big Apple “bible.” One-time tourists and frequent visitors alike also relate how much they depend on it. I hear from readers who ask when the next edition will be published. Nothing pleases me more! Where to Find It, Buy It, Eat It in New York is a compendium of information and opinions. I mix facts with subjective commentary based on my lifelong interest and expertise in retailing and travel. No one pays to be listed in my book; these are all my honest choices and appraisals.
