Secret New York - Curious Activities ('Secret' guides)

very interesting lots of curious out of the way factoids; good directions

a fun enjoyable guide.

Good guide.

good

What fun! The description alone for the "Anthropomorphic Mouse Taxidermy" class was worth the purchase price.

Once again, the Secret New York series has come along with far out things I never knew of. Start the day with rifle lessons at the West Side Rifle Range, then archery lessons at Pro Line Archery in Queens. If you want to take your survival skills up a notch, learn to camp out in Central Park with the /mountain Scout Survival School. There’s mountain biking in Queens, nature trails in all boroughs, and kayaking. When I say kayaking, I mean you can kayak everywhere; on the Hudson River off Manhattan, or Jamaica Bay in Queen, even on the Bronx River.Time for food? Let’s move on to Murray’s on Bleecker Street, where you can take a class on cheese, learn about all the different and quirky types (like the cows fed on leftover sludge from breweries.) If you want something a little more “natural,” you can search for edible plants with Steve Brill in Central Park, or hunt for edible mushrooms with the Mycology Society.Some of the activities are child friendly, like the puppet making workshop. Other are probably not. Some of them are free, others you have to pay for. There are seasonal activities, and others open all year round. In an age when kids are spending more and more time on the computer, it makes sense to get out more and see what the city has to offer.By the looks of this book, it offers quite a lot.

Many interesting spots, but too many are fairly insignificant, e.g., a wall plaque.

After relishing T.M.Rives' first book Secret New York, Curious Activities couldn't have come out any sooner. Who knew you could go fishing in New York for the same price you could go to the movies? I'll take a fresh fluke on my plate over some vapid blockbuster anytime. Who knew you could go whale watching? Or tree climbing? Or drawing at the Met with your very own easel? T.M.Rives has done it all, and more. Now it's your turn. Jump, climb, dance, canoe, draw, ride, listen, watch, laugh. The list is endless. New York can be your city whether you live here or not. Let it get under your skin, in a great way. You won't regret it. That I can promise.