Off the Beaten (Subway) Track by Suzanne Reisman  
  • Off the Beaten (Subway) Track by Suzanne Reisman

copyright Courtesy of Cumberland House

Off the Beaten (Subway) Track.

by Suzanne Reisman. Cumberland House, 2008; $16.95.

I thoroughly enjoyed this guide’s reviews of wacky museums and the hidden, random gems of the city. Off the Beaten (Subway) Track by Suzanne Reisman is a glimpse into the city that offers unexpected pleasures—the weird, the quirky and the people who have museums in their homes. All of the sites were picked for their offbeat charm and seem like they’d only be found in New York City.

Reisman has certainly done her homework. She details places that I’m guessing many New Yorkers don’t even know about, such as hidden art at the United Nations Sculpture Garden that can only be seen through the locked gates, or an archaeological dig site in an office plaza. The guide is by no means a standard “where to stay, when to go” tourist book. In fact, you won’t find that info here, though there are subway and bus directions for each attraction. But if you want to guarantee an interesting story about a crazy New York site, this is the go-to book.

Pros

Each review reads like an article, sometimes running several pages. The very detailed descriptions make you feel as if you’ve been there. She often interviews some of the city’s more curious curators, such as a performance artist who runs the Lower East Side Troll Museum out of her 300-sq.-ft. apartment. If trolls aren’t your thing, you’ll find more mainstream museums such as the New York City Fire Museum and the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage covered as well.

Great Tips

For most sites, Reisman offers tips on other neighborhood highlights to check out, such as hole-in-the-wall diners and funky shops. For example, after discussing the Steinway & Sons Piano Factory Tour, she lists six different nearby bakeries where you can sample treats.

Cons

Oddly, she does not list prices for most sites, which would be helpful to know how much to budget in advance.

Worth Buying?

For sheer entertainment value and to seek out the unusual, yes. For a first-time visitor who needs nitty-gritty facts on the city, no.