Unforgotten New York

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Captivating photographs from the present and the past take readers on a tour through New York City's most influential cultural spaces--reminding us of what made them legendary, and revealing what has replaced them. If you lived in New York City in the 1950s, '60s, '70s, or '80s, you
were likely enchanted by a particular, legendary place. Latenight
spots like the Copacabana, Studio 54, The Mudd Club,
or The Roxy; music venues such as CBGBs and the Village
Vanguard; cutting-edge performance spaces such as The
Kitchen and St. Mark's Church in the Bowery; social hangouts
like the Gaslight Café and Keith Haring's Pop Shop. Many of
these places are gone, but none are forgotten--and all are
brought thrillingly back to life in this gorgeously designed
volume. Poignant, insightful texts and both archival and new
photography take readers inside more than 40 historical
locations to see what made them so beloved back in the day
and reveal what they look like now. Each chapter includes
background history of the space, as well as quotes from famous
artists, musicians, and other key players of the time. Together,
these words and pictures comprise a bittersweet elegy for a
city's iconic spaces and show the continued relevance of New
York as a hotbed for the creation of popular culture.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

"Vanishing New York" has become a widely recognized phrase summing up concerns that luxury real estate, corporate retail, Bloomberg-era rezoning, and gentrification have displaced mom-and-pop stores, affordable housing, and, of relevance to this book, arts venues. Brun-Lambert, John Short, and David Tanguy (writer, photographer, and designer, respectively) set out to visit defunct Manhattan spaces that incubated disco, hip-hop, punk, experimental film, dance, and performance. What they found surprised them: some of the spaces were still functioning, or were housing newer arts institutions. The authors' efforts morphed into a celebration of unforgotten landmarks. They appropriately lament the loss of much of the artistic vitality of late 20th-century New York but also celebrate (in archival and contemporary photos and words) the people and places that defined trendsetting cultures, recouping a positive story amid disconcerting change. Texts describe the significance of each venue and its current use. VERDICT Readers interested in contemporary arts will enjoy this photo documentation of a time when art was less constrained by real estate values and more about exuberance, improvisation, and boundary-pushing creativity. © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.