Review
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
This book is dedicated to the propsition that it is as rewarding to live in New York City as it is to work here. However, the transition from newcomer to New Yorker isn't necessarily achieved without some discomfort. To minimize the difficulties involved in moving to New York, we have written the Newcomer's Handbook for New York City. The Newcomer's Handbook for New York City has been continually updated since its 1980 inception in order to keep up with change in this fastest-paced of cities.
Whether you are looking for the right neighborhood or the right health club, the right synagogue or merely the right radio station, these chapters will guide you, the newcomer, in your search.
The 1990s brought a boom in two pillars of the New York economy: the stock market and tourism. These resurgent industries, plus a lower crime rate and an upbeat feeling that the city is no longer out of control, have turned the real estate market around. Once again the rental market is tight, especially in the more desirable neighborhoods, and rents are up roughly 35% over 1994. The quest for an affordable good apartment is more difficult. Wherever you settle, now more than ever, it is important to know your neighborhood: establishing a sense of community where you live will make your life in New York more rewarding.
In addition to regular updating and detailed descriptions of neighborhoods in the city and New Jersey, this 18th edition includes timely information on renting or buying a home, as well as a survey of Greenspace and Beaches for quick breaks to local green havens. Throughout the book, wherever available, we've included web sites for locations, institutions and establishments that are mentioned. We've also added information on food shopping, special bookstores, online services and an annotated list of Useful Web Sites.
As usual, we welcome readers' suggestions and comments on the tear-out page at the back of the book.
We hope that the information presented on the following pages will help you establish a New York City residence smoothly and speedily. We also hope that once you select your neighborhood and settle in, the book will help you get on with the pleasure part: enjoyment of the city's myriad and unrivaled resources.
