Phillip LoPate’s “Waterfront” is an elegantly structured, beautifully written book. (Lakefront Property)
Phillip LoPate’s “Waterfront” is an elegantly structured, beautifully written book. The central narrative thread takes him around the perimeter of the island of Manhattan, and anyone who’s even a little bit curious about ruins, industrial archaeology, and odd and forgotten spots will read about his adventures and travails with great pleasure.
LoPate is also well versed in urban design, architecture and New York’s history and uses each neighborhood as a chance to discuss everything from the politics of urban renewal to Manhattan’s history as a center of piracy.
In addition to the neighborhood by neighborhood travelogue, LoPate also includes several short “excursions” on other topics of related to New York’s history and present, ranging from a discussion of shipworms to a revisionist look at the much loathed Robert Moses.
Not only is LoPate’s own writing wonderful, but he drops in lots of pointers to other works I’m really tempted to look for “Heartbeats in the Muck” about the ecological revival of NY harbor if only to have the title on my bookshelf.
