Books to Buy

Note: In this entry, I have highlighted several action steps in red to remind me of my next steps.

Our local libraries only had dated sources regarding New York City. I was able to find a couple fictional titles of interest, but they are not really what I am looking for. I recalled seeing several great books in the bookstore at The Modern Museum of Art (MoMA). In an attempt to remember the title of one particular book (something about Art Walks) I went to Amazon and did a search using these key words "new york city art walks". Amazon produced several noteworthy titles.

Only in New York: 400 Remarkable Answers to Intriguing, Provocative Questions About New York City by The New York Times and Stuart Goldenberg (2004)

Off the Beaten (Subway) Track: New York City's Best Unusual Attractions by SUZANNE REISMAN (2008)

City Walks with Kids: New York: 50 Adventures on Foot (City Walks) by Elissa Stein and Dave Needham (2007)

40 Perfect New York Days: Walks and Rambles In and Around the City by Joan Gregg, Serena Nanda, and Beth Pacheco (2004)

The Historical Atlas of New York City: A Visual Celebration of 400 Years of New York City's History by Eric Homberger and Alice Hudson (2005)

Museums of New York City: A Guide for Residents and Visitors (Westholme Museum Guides) by Deirdre Cossman (2005)

The Cheap Bastard's Guide to New York City, 4th: A Native New Yorker's Secrets of Living the Good Life--for Free! (Cheap Bastard) by Rob Grader (2008)

City Walks: New York: 50 Adventures on Foot by Martha Fay (2004)

Brooklyn! The Ultimate Guide to New York's Most Happening Borough, 3rd Edition by Ellen Freudenheim and Anna Wiener (2004)

Lonely Planet New York City Encounter by Ginger Otis (2007)


New York City For Dummies (Dummies Travel) by Brian Silverman (2006)


The City Beneath Us: Building the New York Subway by New York Transit Museum and Vivian Heller (2004)

Rats: Observations on the History and Habitat of the City's Most Unwanted Inhabitants (Alex Awards (Awards)) by Robert Sullivan (2004)

I am encouraged by the quantity, but the accessibility is not so cool. My nearest bookstore is forty miles, so my next step is to revisit these titles online, then see if a drive to the store is worth it. As the due date looms, it might be wiser for me to just include this list with an evaluation of each books potential as part of my collection of information.

I went to MoMA's site, but did not have any luck in finding books about New York City Art Walks. http://www.moma.org/

I will revisit the site, however, to get more information about the exhibits, hours, and fees. Once on the site I recalled that this was one of my student's favorite stops last year, though we only had thirty minutes until closing time. I think I will contact several students who went last year and have them share with me what they wish they could go back to see again.

I also need to contact an artist friend of mine who just took a family trip to the city this past summer and see what she suggests in terms of maps and guides and sites.

A moment of reflection on Kahlthau: I experienced some frustration and doubt after visiting my library, but after a little fine focus, I am emerging with clarity. According to her range of emotions, that puts me between the Exploration and Formulation stages. That pairs nicely with the Webbing and Wiggling that Lamb has targeted. I continue to be fascinated with Kahlthau's accuracy of emotion. I don't know how to use it exactly with students -- perhaps just acknowledging that the devil is in the room is all you sometimes have to do to make you feel more comfortable. I guess if you look ahead, she offers hope . . . I should be experiencing clarity and confidence soon. I looked at the girl on her cover one more time too. I wonder at what stage that girl is.