Unknown New York: Drawing Out the City’s Secrets

An intrepid and gifted artist uncovers and illustrates more than 100 surprising, enchanting, and sometimes downright bizarre nooks and crannies that make New York such a compelling city.

It’s no surprise that New York City is the most visited destination in the U.S., and has proved itself to be an endlessly fascinating exploration ground to visitors and natives alike. Unknown New York walks readers through the vibrant, hidden, and forgotten worlds churning beneath the surface of the city. From the oldest bridge -- a footbridge described as a ＂red sidewalk through the sky＂ -- to a quirky and little-known Superhero Supply Store in Brooklyn to the original and abandoned Hall of Fame in the Bronx, the author takes us on a magical mystery tour through the city many people think they know.

Each entry presents a brief and compelling description of a hidden park, historical site, niche shop, etc and is accompanied by a charming four-color illustration by the author.

Locations Include:
Hidden History

• New-York Historical Society, Daily Planet, Mt. Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden, Grant’s Tomb, 23 Skidoo, Roosevelt Building, The Cable Building, The High Bridge, City Reliquary, The Fire Museum, The Shinran Statue, Ukrainian Museum, St. George’s Church, Poster House, Winnie-the-Pooh, Morris - Jumel Mansion, Justice & Authority, Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Monument, Cutler Mail Chutes, 7B, Edgar Allen Poe & Batman, The First Hall of Fame, Fraunces Tavern

Central Park

• Glen Span Arch, The Ravine, The Pilgrim, Hernshead, The Conservatory Garden, The Italianate Garden, The English-Style Garden, The French-Style Garden, 36 Arches, USS Maine Monument, Harlem Meer, The Last Bolt

Humble Parks

• Wagner Park, Pier 62 Carousel, Father Demo Square, Greenacre Park, Jacob Wrey Mould Fountain, Domino Park, Stuyvesant Square, Sea Glass Carousel, Teardrop Park, Prospect Park Boathouse, The Real World, Glick Park, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, West Harlem Piers, Bella Abzug Park, Elizabeth Street Garden, Sutton Place Park, Stuyvesant Cove, Fort Tryon, Evangeline Blashfield Fountain, Peter Detmold Park, South Cove

On the Street

• Waterfall Tunnel, Brooklyn Heights Promenade, New York Yacht Club, Stone Street, The Silk Clock, Water Towers, Joralemon Street, Harriet Tubman, Mosaic House, Green Tunnel, Block Beautiful, Haunted House, Freeman Alley, The Pink House, Delancey Station, 61/2 Avenue, Elevated Station, Bushwick Street Art, Bond Street, City Subway Grate, First Street Green Cultural Park

Shopping Spree

• Albertine, Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co., The Old Print Shop, Kalustyan’s, The Drama Book Shop, Zoltar, Jeweled Gardens, Kinokuniya, Economy Candy, Chartwell, Bowne & Co. Stationers, Rice to Riches

Quiet Realms

• Morgan Library, 2nd Avenue Subway, The Rubin, The Earth Room, Roerich Museum, Elevated Acre, Tudor City, Beekman Place, Japan Society, City College, Sutton Place, The Met’s Astor Court, Waterside, Green-Wood Cemetery, 191st Street Tunnel, Ford Foundation, Noguchi Museum, Cooper Hewitt Design Museum

Excursions

• Pier C, Louis Armstrong House, Governor’s Island, Snug Harbor, The Unisphere, Wave Hill, Downtown River Walk, Neighborhood Parks Walk, Midtown Book-Lover’s Walk, Hidden Central Park Walk, Midtown Book-Lover’s Walk

An artist and explorer of the urban landscape, Jesse Richards has found varied and strange locations all over New York by leading one of the city’s largest drawing groups for the past 15 years. Now more than 8,000 members, they sketch in parks and museums and concealed cul-de-sacs all over NYC. A designer by day, he also guides tourists around NYC neighborhoods with the non-profit Big Apple Greeter.