Posts Tagged ‘the book’

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One Star!

January 23rd, 2010 by Suzanne | 5 Comments | Filed in I love New York, What is wrong with people?

>I noticed a new review of Off the Beaten (Subway) Track: New York City’s Best Unusual Attractions on amazon.com. Then I noticed that it was for one star. The last time I received a less than stellar review, the reader complained that the book only had weird and unusual attractions. I was curious what the problem was this time:

I was actually looking for places “off the beaten track” but this book had nothing you could not get off the net or regular tourist book. It’s basically a listing of museums and churches. Very Very disappointing

I’m very intrigued by this. Partly because I don’t agree at all that it is a list of museums and churches that you can get off the internet (without searching pretty damn hard, anyway – you can get anything off the internet with a little effort) and definitely most places are not in regular tourist books (although some are, and I put an unusual aspect of the place in my book, like the vertical tour of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine). Mostly I want to know what the person expected the book would be about. It has parks, restaurants, museums (some inside people’s homes), a former airport, forts, churches, stores, and monuments. Aren’t those what constitute “attractions?” I’m not asking to be defensive, I’m asking because I genuinely want to know for next time and there’s no way to contact this dude and ask. Any thoughts?

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Happy Anniversary, BlogHer!

January 22nd, 2010 by Suzanne | 5 Comments | Filed in writing

Four years ago, someone took a chance on me. I’d only been blogging for a few months when I heard that BlogHer was looking for volunteer contributing editors for a new site they were launching. I rushed to their current homepage, noticed that people already claimed the topic I most wanted (feminism and gender), and saw that travel and recreation was still open. Well, I love traveling and do it a lot. I had just blogged a trip to France. I left a message with links to three posts (this was before I had any idea what HTML was, not that I’m an expert at it now), and hoped for the best.

Not long after, I heard from Lisa Stone, one of BlogHer’s founders. She said that she “loved” my blog and offered me the gig. I was thrilled! (Re-reading her email today, which I just looked at again, brings tears to my eyes. Yeah, I still have an email from January 2006 in my inbox.) My first post – Introduction to Travel and Recreation appeared on January 22, 2006. I hoped for many things, but was not sure what to expect.

Four years later, I still write for BlogHer, although on feminism, not travel. It offered me a platform when I was just exploring writing. It offered me a platform when I sent out proposals for a travelogue I was writing about unusual things to see and do New York City. It offered me a platform when my book, Off the Beaten (Subway) Track, was published 2.5 years later. It offered me a platform to meet and be inspired by other women.

Sure, it hasn’t been all champagne and roses. When I realized that my four year anniversary was coming up, I compared it to my marriage: sometimes I wanted to scream and stomp around with selfish, delusional indignity, but overall my life is richer, happier, and better in every way because I have it. (Husband was slightly offended by this analogy, but I stand by it.) I’m so lucky.

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Bobblehead Suzanne: Online or On TV…

January 11th, 2010 by Suzanne | 4 Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

>I wish that I didn’t nod nervously throughout my interview with the wonderful AnneLise Sorensen, but I am glad that I didn’t look like a zombie:

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/video.

Thanks again to AnneLise for having me on her show!

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Awesomeness

January 5th, 2010 by Suzanne | 3 Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

>My cousin told me to say hi to Tina and Alex when I went for my taping at 30 Rock, but sadly, I did not see them. Heck, I didn’t even see the guy who plays the page. Or Janice Huff, my favorite weather person, who I’d be far more likely to run into since I was on the same floor as the news. I think.

The lack of celebrity sightings did not make my first TV appearance* any less exciting. AnneLise calmed my nerves, assuring me that I did not look like a zombie with too much eye makeup. She also said she liked my pixie haircut. Once I saw myself on the monitor, I felt a little better. AnneLise and I sat in front of a green screen, and I thought the subway car backdrop that they chose was pretty awesome.

AnneLise was great leading the interview, and I had a fun time talking to her. The production staff was also very nice. After we finished, they asked if it was my first time taping for TV. When I said yes, they said I was very professional. It was just a super experience overall. I can’t thank AnneLise enough, and I also can’t wait to see the segment on New York Nonstop!

*This discounts various times that I showed up in the audience of shows, like The Bozo Show when I was a kid, or during my period of talk show obsessions in 1994-1995, when I made a comment on The Rikki Lake Show and possibly also The Rolanda Show. Also, I ever so briefly appeared eating hot dogs in MTV’s episode of Real Life (“I Want to Be a Professional Eater”) because I stuffed my face next to Tim “Eater X” Janus, who was featured on the program. Although exciting, I do not count these.

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>Suzanne Ilana Goes Public

October 8th, 2009 by Suzanne | No Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

>My appearance on “Seven Second Delay with Ken and Andy” went very well last night. I had a great time talking about the book, although within the first two seconds I revealed my deepest, darkest secret: my middle name. I probably also burst the eardrums of unsuspecting listeners with my shrill imitation of my mom yelling at me. Fortunately, they let me stay and talk about the book.

To hear this outburst (and my love for the Masons Hall, Mother Cabrini Shrine, Enrico Caruso Museum, and Rev. Jen’s Troll Doll Museum), there is a Podcast. I come on about 19 minutes into the show and blather on for ten minutes.

I was horrified when I noticed that there were also photographs posted (if I had known, I might’ve worn make-up), but I discovered that I look fine. Especially in comparison to Wallace Shawn, who rocked the house. Inconceivable!

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>Um

October 6th, 2009 by Suzanne | No Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

>To prepare for my appearance on Seven Second Delay tomorrow, I thought it wise to review my last “Off the Beaten(Subway) Track” presentation. I put together a little slide show on subway road trips in general and some sites that are found along the A train. To my enormous horror, I discovered that I say “um” approximately every four seconds. (If you can stand it, see for yourself below. Between “ums”, there is actually some intelligent humor.)

“Off the Beaten (Subway) Track” at Adult Education (June 2, 2009) from OTBST on Vimeo.

I always thought I was a good public speaker, but if everything sounds like that little talk, eek! If I can’t get around saying “um,” maybe I should try saying “ohm.” At least that way I’ll get some meditative benefits. Oy vey.

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>Hitting the Big Time – Inconceivable!

October 4th, 2009 by Suzanne | No Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

>Last week was (another) rough week. This not having a job thing is really weighing on me. Even though other good things are happening, I’ve been in a serious unemployment funk.

Then, as I was moping around Grand Central Station on Thursday while waiting for a friend, I received the following email on my BlackBerry:

I’m writing to invite you to a live radio show at the UCB Theater in Chelsea next week, Weds, Oct 7th between 6-7pm. I’m sorry for the short notice, but one of our listeners suggested you as a guest, and you’d be in great company — also booked for that evening is author/actor Wallace Shawn and comedian Brent Weinbach. We’d love to
talk about your book “Off the Beaten Subway Track” and get some tips from you about exploring NYC.

The show is a WFMU radio talkshow called “Seven Second Delay” hosted by Andy Breckman and Ken Freedman. Andy’s the creator and executive producer of the Emmy-award winning show Monk, airing on the USA Network, and Ken is General Manager of WFMU, an independent radio station. They co-host Seven Second Delay, an hour-long
loosely-formatted radio show that broadcasts live from the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Chelsea and reaches about 30,000 listeners an episode. More information on the show is available here: http://sevenseconddelay.blogspot.com/.

Are you available? Interested? We also have a date in November we
could look into.

Am I interested? Am I available? Fuck yeah!!! Not only does it sound like a rad radio show with awesome hosts, but Wallace Shawn from the motherfucking movie The Princess Bride is going to be on. Missing that show would be inconceivable! (Which, I am embarrassed to admit, was more or less my reply. I am glad they still wanted me after I made that lame joke.)

This invitation perked me right up, and I’ve been feeling much better these past few days. I owe it all to Pamela. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Pamela!

As noted, the show is on Wed., Oct. 7 at 6 pm at the UCB Theater (307 W. 26th Street). It only costs $5 to see me share a stage with Wallace Shawn. Inconceivable, I know. The show also streams online or can be heard on the old fashioned radio at 91.1 FM in New York, at 90.1 FM in the Hudson Valley. I am major excited.

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The Two Star Review

September 18th, 2009 by Suzanne | No Comments | Filed in Asshole idiots, hilarity, What is wrong with people?

>There are sixteen reviews of my book about unusual things to see and do in New York, Off the Beaten (Subway) Track, on Amazon.com. Fifteen of them rated the book with five out of five stars. (I am humbled and honored!) In the wee hours of this insomnia-filled night/morning, I discovered a two star review:

This book is much more suited to people who live in New York or know the city very well. If you are new to the city is not a good way to get accustomed to the city, as the book doesn’t really lay out general information and most of the attractions in the book are very odd.

The first part of the comment is probably true. The second part is definitely true, as it is a book about unusual things to see and do in New York City. The subtitle is, “New York City’s Best Unusual Attractions.” Amazon’s description includes lines like, “Off the Beaten (Subway) Track is the first book to focus on the hundreds of off-the-beaten-path destinations in the city,” and “These are the types of places and things that fit perfectly with New Yorkers’ psyches and egos and satisfy the desire of tourists to see the unusual.” Given these cues, I am not sure what else a reader might expect. Mission accomplished.

Honestly, there are some potentially excellent reasons to give it two stars. I find it hilarious that it was rated poorly because it delivered exactly what it promised to deliver. It’s almost one of those compliment/backhanded insult situations. So, if you are thinking about buying a copy of Off the Beaten (Subway) Track, I hope you will not be disappointed that a book about unusual things to see and do in New York City focuses on places that “are very odd.”

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>Things that Are Happening that Are Good

June 3rd, 2009 by Suzanne | No Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

>Too many bad things happened lately. I’m still displeased with how Congress favors lobbyists over the general welfare of the nation, distraught over the assassination of Dr. George Tiller, and enraged that Cheney is working overtime to undermine Obama.* Plus, I need a job. Worse, last Wednesday, my nephew wound up in the hospital with a distended stomach, and he’s still there. Very, very upsetting.

Fortunately, things are starting to look up a bit. The most important is that Marcus is doing much, much better. On Sunday, the doctors finally came up with a diagnosis for him: necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). While NEC is awful and scary, it also is curable, and his treatment is going very well. I spoke to my sister yesterday, and she said that Marcus is very alert and responsive, and also that he slept well the prior night for the first time in days, and thus was less fussy in general. I’m relieved, and looking forward to his return home.

Last night I presented a lecture at Adult Education, and it went smashingly. I had fun talking, the audience was wonderful, and the other speakers were great. I really love public speaking, especially when it is about something fun like taking a subway road trip. My brother-in-law was kind enough to video tape it (my new publisher, Turner Publications, which bought my book when my original publisher closed shop, asked if I could record the talk for marketing purposes), so I’ll post it on CUSS when he has a chance to upload it. But, man, I just felt fabulous last night.

My third ray of sunshine is on the job front. In an hour, I have a phone interview for a position which I think will be very interesting. My fingers are crossed that the good vibe I had from last night will come through this morning.

Tomorrow, my friend Dr. P begins her visit with me. She got a job in Long Island, and is moving back up here from Florida this summer. Just thinking about her triumphant return to the New York area puts a big smile on my little face.

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>My Lecture Tonight on Urban Travel

June 2nd, 2009 by Suzanne | No Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

>Adult Education is a Brooklyn-based monthly event series where various speakers present brief, multimedia lectures on a shared theme. Tonight’s theme is Urban Travel, and I will be sharing some of the “treasures” one can find by taking a subway roadtrip with the A train. The podium will be graced with three other esteemed speakers discussing subway map design, subway sketch art, and people who refuse to vacate seats specifically designated for people with disabilities when a person who has a visible disability enters the train. (Part of me has extra love for the last one because the blog URL is so long: www.peoplewhositinthedisabilityseatswhenimstandingonmycrutches.com.)

Time Out New York selected the lecture to highlight on their Own This City blog, so you know it will be good. Plus, it is only $5. Bargains like this are hard to come by!

I’ll have copies of Off the Beaten (Subway) Track available for $15. (That’s a whopping $1.95 off the cover price!)

Critical Info:
Union Hall
702 Union St (between Fifth and Sixth Ave)
Park Slope, Brooklyn
718-638-4400

Closest subway: M, R to Union St
For other directions: http://www.unionhallny.com

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