Review of NEW YORK, WISH YOU WERE HERE by Eileen M. Ward

It would seem that all aspects of Manhattan have been pursued and covered in all media, but this book is both fresh and engaging in its approach to its subject, and in its unique involvement of the reader. Some authors focus on historical fact about the Borough; others try to place the reader on the sidewalks of Gotham’s busy streets, while still more use the City as background for adventuresome travel. In her work, though, Diana Krause Oliver achieves all of the above approaches while imbuing the reader with nostalgia for America’s prime international City, whether that reader is a native, a repetitive visitor, or someone whose life has been touched by the varied magic of Manhattan through the twentieth century.

In vivid imagery supported by an incredibly comprehensive series of postcards featuring Manhattan and its neighborhoods, Krause Oliver captures the history, the color, the pulse, and the strength of the Big Apple’s trail‐blazers in establishing “the City that never sleeps.” Supplementing the postcards with succinct text and historic detail, she also celebrates the art of the NYC subways, features bridges, and seamlessly sews together the emergence of neighborhoods, often stamped by the intrepid emigrant migrations who cherished liberty and sacrificed to have it become the background against which they raised families and internationalized their new home with their traditions.

Native to NYC but now transplanted to Chicago, the author is clearly immersed in her father’s style as he “treated every corner of Manhattan like a friend he had just met.” And this mystique is graciously shared with her readers who become spiritually and sensually rapt in her dedicated work of fifteen years.

It is fitting, in this tenth anniversary year of 9/11, that one of her motivators for her work was that cataclysmic day when she found herself “on an early morning flight about to descend into New York.” Diverted to Philadelphia, she sat, like most of us, incredulous at TV images of the horror that “changed our lives.” From the depths of her appreciation of her birth city, she has woven a tapestry of illustration and explanation that gentles the reader back to the challenging and rewarding times that inspired Manhattan’s citizens to fashion a home with pride and gratitude. No reader will be left without both virtues in taking Diana Krause Oliver’s journey with her to the heart and soul of the City she so loves.

To introduce someone with no knowledge of Manhattan’s life legacy, to help a transplanted native recall the warmth and richness of the place, or simply to celebrate the heritage of Manhattan with those who love what the City represents, there can be no better gift than this book.

42nd STREET

Theaters did not arrive in the area until the early 1900s. By the 1920s the Schubert Brothers operated a majority of theaters. The roaring 20s brought big Broadway musical reviews, and the introduction of films with synchronized sound, like the Jazz Singer. The Great Depression led to a decline in theater attendance in the 1930s forcing many businesses to close. From the 60s to the 80s the street was known as a haven for adult entertainment. The 90s brought revitalization when Walt Disney C0. opened a Disney store that attracted family-friendly businesses to the area, leading to a so-called 'Disneyfication' of 42nd Street.

MIDTOWN

In the early 1900, the area was known for its shopping which included department stores as B. Altman & Co., Macy's, and Gimbels Brothers.
Woolworth's was one of Americas first 5 & 10 stores. It originated the idea of the lunch counter to keep customers from leaving the store.

The East Village

The East Village originally ended at the East River, where Avenue C is now located. Landfill, including World War II debris and rubble shipped from London, was used to extend the shoreline outward to provide foundation for the FDR Drive.

The West Village

Manhattan is a city made up of small villages. When immigrants first came to the country they would seek out their own people and move into the same community. Each neighborhood had its unique language, religion and culture. The spirit of a city is about constant change: nothing stays the same. Today Manhattan neighborhoods are totally mixed and only a few ethnic pockets remain.

HOUSTON STREET

Houston Street is the dividing line between SoHo to the south, and NoHo to the north.

Cast Iron District - the area is prized for its decorative cast iron architectural elements.

The Lower East Side

The Lower East Side is one of the oldest neighborhoods in NYC. Home for newly arriving immigrants during the 20th century.