Product Description

Everything important that has ever happened in New York began or ended in the City's best bars. From the deep mahogany of downtown to the polished brass of uptown, The History and Stories of the Best Bars of New York recounts the drama, character and stories of the City's most important meeting places.



This book is about the people and events that have unfolded within these historic establishments, and demonstrates how each bar has served as a backdrop for both business deals and social gatherings, but also for private moments of reflection. Although their patrons have changed over the years, these bars have quietly remained a constant source of fellowship and conviviality from generation to generation.


Over 30 profiles containing vignettes of famous lore and little-known history are accented by stunning duotone images sure to intrigue both long-time New Yorkers and visitors to The City. The History and Stories of the Best Bars of New York provides a unique glimpse inside New York's foremost bars and how they came to be what they are today.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #335837 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 216 pages

Review
An intriguing collection of histories and tales about the inherently fascinating and justly famed bars, pubs, and clubs. --Midwest Book Review

Did you ever wonder about the Prohibition history of New York's famed 21 Club? How about the origins of the legendary McSorley's Old Ale House? What about the power broker gathering spot at the Waldorf-Astoria, the Bull & Bear? Then you need to get a copy of The History and Stories of the Best Bars of New York by Jef Klein with photographs by Cary Hazlegrove. The book is loaded with black and white photographs of many of the most famous spots for throwing back a drink in New York City. It also tells the stories of the people who run these famous watering holes. Some, like Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle Hotel are pretty famous. Others, like the Bridge Cafe near South Street Seaport or the P&G Cafe on the Upper West Side, would be easy to miss unless you were a local. You could plan a drinking holiday in New York using the book, but even if you don't plan to travel to the Big Apple it is a nice catalog of places that are historic slices of the city's past. --Rick Lyke, lyketodrink.com

An intriguing collection of histories and tales about the inherently fascinating and justly famed bars, pubs, and clubs. --Midwest Book Review

Klein has chronicled the rich history of Big Apple bars in the History and Stories of the Best Bars of New York ...packed with eye-catching images that illustrated the diversity, charm, and personality of each...Klein s account of famous lore and little-known history is sure to inspire even teetotalers among us to pop by most of these places to get an up-close and personal look at what makes them noteworthy, particularly since it is executed through her punchy anecdotes and cleverly written text. --Social Affairs

Klein has chronicled the rich history of Big Apple bars in the History and Stories of the Best Bars of New York ...packed with eye-catching images that illustrated the diversity, charm, and personality of each...Klein s account of famous lore and little-know history is sure to inspire even teetotalers among us to pop by most of these places to get an up-close and personal look at what makes them noteworthy, particularly since it is executed through her punchy anecdotes and cleverly written text. --Social Affairs

Klein has chronicled the rich history of Big Apple bars in the History and Stories of the Best Bars of New York ...packed with eye-catching images that illustrated the diversity, charm, and personality of each...Klein s account of famous lore and little-know history is sure to inspire even teetotalers among us to pop by most of these places to get an up-close and personal look at what makes them noteworthy, particularly since it is executed through her punchy anecdotes and cleverly written text. --Social Affairs

Whether you are a drinker or not, this book will make you want to visit the bars listed in The History and Stories of the Best Bars of New York, just to soak up some history and atmosphere. Each bar is like a person, possessing it's own personality and quirks, and it is these trait that have contributed to each bar's success and longevity. Author Jef Klein writes in a pleasing, easy-to-read style and the beautiful photos take you into the depths of each bar. The histories are fascinating--my favorite being the '21' Club. This account brings Prohibition alive and the ingenuity of the bar owners in their attempts to foil the mob, raids by the police and the Feds. New York's own personality as a city emerges as you read each of the bar descriptions and histories. Some of the bars a small hidden gems, and others are famous, known for celebrities that have continued to patronize them year after year. One thing the bars seem to have in common, is they are either family owned and operated, or --Blend Radio and TV

If you're into old New York bars like McSorley's, Ear Inn, Spring Lounge, Old Town Bar, Fanelli's, the Corner Bistro, and the Bull & Bear (where FOX shoots its FOX Business show Monday through Friday - and is always looking for people to interview on-air) then you will want to know about a new book titled The History and the Stories of the Best Bars of New York. Best Bars? Best City? A match for the ages!

It was conceived and written by Ms. Jef Klein who did her time as a server in NYC and the photos were taken by Ms. Cary Hazlegrove. Both women did a superlative job. Klein's research and ability to tell a story leave you ready to order another and Hazlegrove's photos will get you there. --alareiks blogspot

Klein has chronicled the rich history of Big Apple bars in the History and Stories of the Best Bars of New York ...packed with eye-catching images that illustrated the diversity, charm, and personality of each...Klein s account of famous lore and little-know history is sure to inspire even teetotalers among us to pop by most of these places to get an up-close and personal look at what makes them noteworthy, particularly since it is executed through her punchy anecdotes and cleverly written text. --Social Affairs

About the Author
Jef Klein worked in the restaurant industry in New York City and New Jersey for 14 years as a bartender, waitress, and Union Vice President. Since 1988, she has been an editor and freelance writer, working for Princeton University, City Harvest, the Museum of Television and Radio, inMotion.org, and was a contributing writer and bar reviewer for Shecky's Bar, Club and Lounge Guide. Klein lives in Kendall Park, New Jersey, with her son Ellis, her daughter Simone, and her dog, Archie.


Cary Hazlegrove has pursued the photographic arts for over thirty years. Her work has been published in two critically acclaimed books (Nantucket:Seasons on the Island and Nantucket: The Quiet Season, both with Chronicle Books). Her work has also been published in other publications, including the New York Times, The Boston Globe, Conde Nast Traveler, and Southern Accents. She lives in the village of Siasconset in Massachusetts with her family.

Customer Reviews

Thirty Reasons to Love New York City
It's clear that Jef Klein has a way with words, but you can't help thinking that she also has a way with people, given the stories and gossip that season her account.

It would be too bad if only locals knew about this book. Although it's probably not going to inspire any new walking tours of the city (and if I'm wrong, save me a spot!), the NYC tourism board should recommend it to all visitors.

A coffee table book, and more!
This book is a high-quality coffee table book, but it's more than just a coffee table book: it covers a very interesting topic really well. The book itself is pretty large (about 10 inches), with a square layout. It covers about 30 bars and each one has a multi-page spread. The photos -- and there are a ton of them -- are great black and whites and are BIG. It isn't a guide book, but it could be for those who want an unusual tour of cool places where interesting things happened, and maybe grab a pint or two in the process... The writing is very readable and covers historic anecdotes on all of these places. Most of them predate prohibition and have a host of colorful characters and stories. If you haven't been to the bars in New York, there is nothing like them in the world and this book is a great way to have a deeper understanding of the history that helps make them so special. You have stories of gangsters in the twenties, political figures in the thirties, writers in the fifties. In New York, people live in the city, not in their apartments. This book gives you some understanding of why!

Transported
Jef Klein sure knows how to put the reader in the story-or bar in this case - I thoroughly enjoyed "touring" the old glory days as well as the existing booths at some of the most interesting places NYC has to offer. I've made a list of which ones I plan to visit first- most notably the places with deep carpets, mood music, thick leather seats, soft lighting,and perhaps a celebrity or two (just for atmosphere). Thanks JK for a lovely evening! -RG