For immediate release
Contact: Laura Olk, Emons Publishing
laura.olk@111places.com
+49 221 56977 231
A new guidebook to New York’s final frontier in the sky
111 Rooftops in New York That You Must Not Miss
By Leslie Adatto
Photographs by Clay Williams
New York, NY: New York City has always been a place where only tourists look up – until now. A new guidebook reveals the largely unexplored world on top of the city’s iconic skyline. Offering a surprisingly novel way to view the city, 111 Rooftops in New York That You Must Not Miss (Emons Publishing/distributed by ACC, April 19, 2019; $19.90 paperback with flaps) features the fascinating and unique venues where people can take advantage of the open-air spaces that are so often underutilized or overlooked.
Author Leslie Adatto fulfilled her lifelong dream when she moved from San Diego to New York City in 2010. An avid biker, she became curious about what she might find on top of the buildings she’d ride past every day. She found her niche as the premier New York roof explorer, and she invited others to join her via a blog and two Meetup groups, one for roof deck and roof gardening aficionados and another for rooftop drinkers. New Yorkers took note and began joining her adventures above the city. In fact, Adatto rode her bike to almost every place in her book.
111 Rooftops in New York That You Must Not Miss invites readers to experience a wide range of rooftops throughout the city’s five boroughs, from bars and restaurants, to gardens and farms, to libraries and art spaces. The Cantor Roof at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is an outdoor art gallery with a seasonal bar and breathtaking views of Central Park. The roof gallery at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Battery Park City features artist Andy Goldsworthy's moving Garden of Stones, his only work on permanent exhibit in the city. The Irish Hunger Memorial roof transports visitors to the beautiful greenways of County Mayo.
“It is incredibly fun and fascinating to bring people to all the different kinds of rooftops,” says Adatto. “Many people in New York have embraced their roofs, but it’s still new territory for most.”
Produce, herbs, edible flowers, and berries grow in 3,400 double-stacked milk crates on Riverpark Farm on top of a parking garage, to be served at the adjacent Riverpark Restaurant. The Visitor Center at the Queens Botanical Garden hosts a sloping, wheelchair accessible, 2,900-square-foot green roof covered with native species. A tiny Lotus Garden with two fishponds lays tucked away in Upper Manhattan. Riverbank State Park in Harlem is the largest rooftop in the hemisphere at 28 acres, with an Olympic-size pool, a covered skating rink, and spectacular views of the Hudson River - all on top of a sewage treatment plant.
For those seeking drinking and dining venues al fresco, Adatto shares some very enticing ones. The Williamsburg Hotel offers a festive atmosphere all summer long with two rooftop options: The Rooftop, a chic pool and bar area where guests can lounge in the sun, and the Water Tower Bar, a reservation-only lounge for those who want a more intimate experience. The Meatpacking District’s Brass Monkey is a relaxed neighborhood bar with a High Line view. Leaf Bar & Lounge offers Asian-American fare above Flushing, Queens, while The Crown is Chinatown’s only commercial rooftop venue.
“New York has a rooftop for anyone of any age and any interest,” Adatto says.
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About the Series
This illustrated 111 Places guidebook series presents cities, regions, countries, and specialty themes from a wonderfully different and personal perspective. Go off the beaten path to find the hidden places, stories, shops, and neighborhoods that unlock a destination’s true character, history, and flavor. The series is published by Emons Publishing in Cologne, Germany and New York, NY. www.111Places.com
About the Author
Leslie Adatto has been seeking out New York City rooftops since relocating to Manhattan in 2010. She blogs about New York City rooftops (www.lookingupwithleslie.com) and organizes two active Meetup groups, The New York Roof Deck and Roof Gardening Meetup Group and Rooftop Drinkers NYC. Leslie earned a BA in English from UCLA, is a former high school teacher and runs a bicoastal business. Leslie lives, bikes, and cooks in the West Village.
About the Photographer
Clay Williams is a lifelong New Yorker who photographs food, drinks, and events for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the James Beard Foundation. With his camera in tow, Clay has hung on to the back of food trucks in Paris, trudged through farms in Argentina, and squeezed into tiny kitchens with world famous chefs. When he’s not documenting the food system, he’s at home, cooking dishes inspired by what he photographs every day. Clay lives in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, with his wife Tammi, a fellow New York native.
Title: 111 Rooftops in New York That You Must Not Miss
Publisher: Emons Publishing/ACC Distribution
Pub date: April 19, 2019
Price: $19.90 US Binding: Paperback with flaps
Extent: 240 pages
Illustrations: 111+ color photographs throughout
ISBN: 978-3-7408-0495-4 Size: 5 ¼ in. x 8 1/8 in.