I really enjoyed this! The illustrations are beautiful and this was very informative. If you are moving to/visiting New York City or just enjoy books about cities I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Jesse Richards,Workman Publishing Company and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've only been to New York a few times and I spent both trips feeling like I didn't have enough time. It's obviously a city someone could spend a lifetime exploring and never get bored. What I liked about this book was that it gave many wonderful and sometimes unusual suggestions for things to see in New York, mostly for free. I was trying to keep track of which ones I wanted to see the most, and then at the end, there were some self-guided walks that will help me see several sights in a short period of time. I loved this book and recommend it to anyone who wants to travel to New York City or who just enjoys traveling from home in your imagination.

Beautifully illustrated and with fascinating details, this book is a must have for those who want to understand New York better!
The chapters include history, parks, (with Central Park getting its own), excursions and so on. I knew some of the secrets, but most I did not- from gorgeous museums to mail chutes and street clocks! Highly recommended :)

Unknown New York was fascinating and I learned so much. I loved all of the pictures and lots of details.

This book is such a cool idea.

Unknown New York by Jesse Richards is a compilation of personal sketches of hidden gems in NYC that aren’t in your typical guide book. The art is divided into different location “genres” (so to speak), so whether you’re in a history mood or a park mood, there’s a place somewhere in the city for you to discover.

This would make a great gift for a NY lover or someone who’s about to travel there for the first or fiftieth time!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company for providing me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unknown New York is available now.

Jesse Richards has led numerous sketching classes throughout New York City. On these travels, Richards has discovered many fascinating places and things in the City. Even if you are quite familiar with New York, you may find new places you've never heard about before and/or learn more about familiar places by reading this book.

The book is quite an easy read as well. It is divided into easily digestible sections with clear names like Humble Parks, Shopping Sprees, Hidden History, and more. Each specific location is covered in a separate entry that is not more than a paragraph or two and is accompanied by one of the author's lovely sketches. There is also a comprehensive section in the back of the book that maps out excursions covering several places discussed in the book in one trip for helpful planning, If you are looking for some fun places to visit in New York City without having to go through the trouble of wading through a thick guide book or even if you just want to read about some interesting places there, and you are not actually planning a visit, you will definitely want to get a copy of this book.

If you like New York (and who doesn't), you will definitely find this book appealing. It gives you both historical and practical information about the city, filled with beautiful illustrations. Thank you to Workman Publishing Company and NetGalley for this ARC.

A wonderful guide to the unknown places in New York .I had so much fun exploring the city ,the city where I grew up and discovering these unique locations with Jesse Richard’s as my guide.Lovely sketches a gem of a book. #netgalley #workmanpublishing,

4.5* Absolutely charming!

Having been to NYC many times, I am well aware of many of the interesting and unusual things the city has to offer. Unknown New York could have been written specifically for me.

Jesse Richards leads a painting group in the city where strangers link up through social media, meet somewhere interesting, and paint. The book highlights interesting monuments, museums, parks, etc where the group have previously gone. Everything in the book is organized into groups, each quick painting or sketch is accompanied by a paragraph or two describing the site with easily accessible words and major points. Super easy to get through and the sites are interesting and quirky. History should always be this fun.

I took note of the walking guides near the end of the book, and I am looking forward to doing the hidden Central Park walk. New York is a fabulous city and Jesse Richards has shown it so much respect with this charming book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A wonderful exploration of forgotten or lesser known nooks and crannies of New York City. For the most part, these are not the iconic sites but the hidden gems that bring the city to life and make it sparkle. A lovely book recommended for the armchair traveller or anyone planning a visit to the Big Apple.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The origins of this book is that the author started a group to lead artists around NYC to explore and sketch. I have visited NYC many times but have not seen the majority of these places. The title is certainly fitting! There are some that I immediately wrote down to go explore on my next visit -- such as The High Bridge, Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden, the Roosevelt Building (and the chocolate restaurant!), the Fraunces Tavern, as well as many parks and bookstores. The illustrations work very well with the text. At the end of the book are some suggested self-guided walking tours and I look forward to going on these as well. This book would make a nice gift for someone traveling to NYC and is looking for things to see off the typical tourist path.

Thank you to Netgalley and Workman Publishing Company for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

New York City, distinct and unique, merges the many layers of culture that have called this place home. Unknown New York is a guidebook that unlocks these hidden treasures, carefully described and illustrated to enliven one’s curiosity and share gems both old and new.

Our journey begins in the heart of NYC with a visit to the New York Public Library. Home to thousands of classic books, they even showcase rare toys like the original Winnie-the-Pooh, Kanga, Piglet, and Eeyore stuffed animals owned by author A.A. Milne’s son, Christopher Robin. Exclusively housed in the children’s room, this is a sight you won’t want to miss!

Why stop there when Brooklyn beckons? Take in the many historical parks, including Green-Wood Cemetery, built on a Revolutionary War battlefield. This historic site commands a perfect view of the Statue of Liberty and is home to a flock of monk parakeets. Continue onto Coney Island where the kids will love having their fortune read by the infamous animatronic Zoltar, known for his appearance in the 1988 Tom Hanks movie Big.

Meanwhile, in Manhattan, bigger explorers may enjoy time in one of the many art museums. The Rubin, quiet and unassuming in the Flatiron District houses a distinctive collection of Buddhist art and mandalas. Not your cup of tea? Head down to SoHo for the New York Earth Room where you’ll find a minimalist art installation that gives new meaning to the term nature lover.

The many personal touches found within the pages of Unknown New York are indisputable. Hand-drawn images were created by Richards and a bevy of other talented artists during the group’s Central Park Monthly Meetup. Many of these illustrations are watercolors, while others were created using digital animation tools. Those interested in art will appreciate this visual exploration of New York City, while others seeking a more tangible experience can use the street maps to plan a real-life adventure.

4.5*
This is a delightful book that offers the quirky, the unusual and the hidden treasures to be found in New York City. The sketches and simple descriptions are perfect for showcasing places and things that the typical traveler, or even the seasoned resident, might not be unaware of. Richards started taking a group of artists to spend time in Central Park to capture the unique sights and sounds. This led him to expand his investigation and to take the group all over the city to discover other little-known or unheard-of gems.

The book is broken down into categories such as hidden history, hidden parks, street, shopping, quiet spots, central park, excursions, and walks. Richards took his love of hiking and exploration to heart as he explored America’s largest city to find the nooks and crannies that most don’t know exist. These are spots that people might walk right by or never discover, unless someone points them out. He includes quiet parks, rare museums, unique streets, statues, artwork, rare bookshops, stores and decorations. Some are more known such as Grant’s tomb and the Morgan Library, but there’s also the oddities like the “earth room,” the Superhero Supply Company and the Peter Plaques.

Richards’ illustrations add to the fascination and his brief narrative gives readers a taste for the exotic and extraordinary places and sights in a city known for its memorable sights. These out-of-the-way spots are presented in a simple fashion that whets the appetite and makes one want to return to the city and explore these hidden treats.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy. Unknown New York is a great book to get you off the beaten path whether you're a new visitor to NYC or have been before.

Beautiful illustrations of unusual things and places to see in New York. It was a very timely read as I am currently in New York. I enjoyed reading this and the illustrations are beautiful. My New Yorker friends did not know about many of these places. I will definitely buy the physical copy

This is an unusual travel book. But it is a great one! I am from New York City, lived there till my mid 20's, and visited almost every year before the pandemic. And yet this book makes me want to go back and look at it in a different way and see what I missed before and since. Initially, I did not think that the small watercolor drawings would benefit the book. But they were perfect because they left you wanting more. More of the real thing. The descriptions also gave you enough information, and didn't leave you with questions. When I do go back to NYC, this book will be in my hand! I thank NetGalley and Workman' s Publishing Co. for making me want to visit New York again!