Newtown Creek

Once a tidal creek meandering through marshlands rich in herbs, grasses, fish, waterfowl, and oysters, Newtown Creek today is a toxic cesspool that brings up raw sewage every time it rains. A tributary of New York's East River that forms part of the border between Brooklyn and Queens, Newtown Creek has long been at the heart of the city's "industrial backyard," serving as home to numerous industries, storage/warehouse facilities, waste transfer stations, and power plants, and as the dumping ground for unwanted byproducts and toxic waste. Site of a 17-million-gallon underground oil spill that still contaminates the area, Newtown Creek is currently under consideration by the Environmental Protection Agency for designation as a Superfund site, but the creek, whose waterfront is for the most part inaccessible to the public, is still largely unknown to residents and visitors of New York alike. Newtown Creek: A Photographic Survey of New York's Industrial Waterfront is an extensive documentation of this forgotten landscape that shows the evolution of the built environment over five years in more than 230 images. Photographer Anthony Hamboussi followed the creek through the neighborhoods of Hunter's Point, Greenpoint, and Bushwick, shooting over fences and gates where he could not gain access, to record the bare industrial landscape. From the ruins of Morgan Oil and the Newtown Metal Corporation, to the construction of the new water treatment facility, to the footprints of the former Maspeth gas holders, Hamboussi recorded sites that may soon undergo further transformations. His survey captures the creek at a moment in time when gentrification and revitalization are just starting to change the area, providing a glimpse into the history of industrial New York. An insightful essay by Paul Parkhill puts Hamboussi's work into context.

Built on an estuary, New York City is rich in population and economic activity but poor in available land to manage the needs of a modern city. Since consolidation of the five boroughs in 1898, New York has faced innumerable challenges, from complex water and waste management issues, to housing and feeding millions of residents in a concentrated area, to dealing with climate change in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, and everything in between. Any consideration of sustainable urbanism requires understanding how cities have developed the systems that support modern life and the challenges posed by such a concentrated population. As the largest city in the United States, New York City is an excellent site to investigate these concerns. Featuring an array of the most distinguished and innovative urban environmental historians in the field, Coastal Metropolis offers new insight into how the modern city transformed its air, land, and water as it grew.

Forgotten New York is your passport to more than 300 years of history, architecture, and memories hidden in plain sight. Houses dating to the first Dutch settlers on Staten Island; yellow brick roads in Brooklyn; clocks embedded in the sidewalk in Manhattan; bishop's crook lampposts in Queens; a white elephant in the Bronx—this is New York and this is your guide to seeing it all. Forgotten New York covers all five boroughs with easy-to-use maps and suggested routes to hundreds of out-of-the-way places, antiquated monuments, streets to nowhere, and buildings from a time lost. Forgotten New York features: Quiet Places Truly Forgotten History Happened Here What is this Thing? Forgotten People And so much more. No matter if you are a lifelong New Yorker, recent resident, or weekend visitor, this magical book is the only guide to true New York.

Nineteen authors share mystery stories set in New York City’s largest borough in this anthology. Akashic Books continues its award-winning series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each book is comprised of all-new stories, each one set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book. Queens becomes the fourth New York City borough to enter the arena in this riveting collection edited by defense attorney and acclaimed fiction writer Robert Knightly. With stories by: Denis Hamill, Malachy McCourt, Maggie Estep, Edgar Award–winner Megan Abbott, Robert Knightly, Liz Martínez, Jill Eisenstadt, Mary Byrne, Tori Carrington, Shailly P. Agnihotri, K.J.A. Wishnia, Victoria Eng, Alan Gordon, Beverly Farley, Joe Guglielmelli, and Glenville Lovell. Includes the story “Bucker’s Error,” winner of the 2009 Edgar Award (Robert L. Fish Memorial Award). Praise for Queens Noir “The ethnically diverse New York borough of Queens is the setting for this solid entry in Akashic’s noir anthology series (Brooklyn Noir, etc.) . . . . with protagonists ranging from a young woman out for revenge (Denis Hamill’s “Under the Throgs Neck Bridge”) to a trigger-happy cop protecting her cousin from an abusive ex-husband (Stephen Solomita’s “Crazy Jill Saves the Slinky”). The husband-and-wife team writing as Tori Carrington . . . weighs in with a gritty whodunit set in a Greek diner in “Last Stop, Ditmars.” The standout by far is “Hollywood Lanes” by Megan Abbott (The Song Is You), a bleak and masterful story of passion and betrayal set in a Forest Hills bowling alley. There’s plenty to enjoy here for Akashic completists and anyone who’s ever cheered (or jeered) the Mets.” —Publishers Weekly

Get the most informative paddling guide to the area, featuring 50 of the best routes for canoeing and kayaking. Boasting more than 400 miles of coastline, beautiful sandy beaches, expansive salt marshes, and dozens of protected bays and harbors, Long Island is truly a paddler’s paradise. It offers something for everyone, from expert sea kayakers to families with young children. Amazing wildlife; ever-changing landscapes; charming history; and, on its western edge, a view of the setting sun behind the Manhattan skyline—there’s no better way to explore it all than from the water. Paddling Long Island & New York City is the most comprehensive guide to the area’s top paddling locations, including rivers, harbors, lakes, and portions of the New York City Water Trail. Written by expert local paddler Kevin Stiegelmaier, the guidebook provides engaging and concise information about Long Island’s geology, weather, history, and wildlife, while also offering carefully selected details vital to a successful paddling trip. You’ll appreciate Kevin’s helpful hints on trip planning, including notes on tides, equipment, training, and camping. Plus, the book’s safety information and navigational “rules of the road” are essential to know. Inside you’ll find: Details on 50 top paddling trips Route descriptions with full-color maps and photos Recommended runs for fishing, trips with children, wildlife viewing, and more At-a-glance data including difficulty, distance, and potential hazards GPS coordinates for put-ins and take-outs Whether you’re looking to spend a long day on the water or you only have time for a quick tour of a local harbor, this book has the information you need to make the trip enjoyable. Wet your paddle and whet your taste for outdoor adventure!