Curiosities of Central New York


Book Description

The people of Central New York know there's something different--perhaps strange--in the air. Across this vast and often wild region, history and lore are remarkably and markedly unusual. Ancient Iroquois mystical traditions still infuse the landscape with a sense of the otherworldly, and for some, witchcraft was a constant fear throughout the nineteenth century. Monsters and even fairies roam the region, frightening or delighting those who say they have encountered them. Visit the world's smallest church in Oneida and North America's only Tibetan monastery, Namgyal, in Ithaca. Join local folklorist Melanie Zimmer as she explores the curiosities of Central New York.




New York Curiosities, 2nd


Book Description

This all-new series title covers the entire Empire State, including a bizarre cemetery on 400 acres in the Bronx and a renowned restaurant in Rochester known as the Home of the Garbage Plate. If you can’t do it here, you can’t do it anywhere!




New York City Curiosities


Book Description

The definitive collection of New York City's odd, wacky, and most offbeat people, places, and things, for New York City residents and anyone else who enjoys local humor and trivia with a twist. From Chinatown restaurants that make "bubble tea" to the Burger King peacock statue in Staten Island, this book will have it all.










Connecticut Curiosities


Book Description

Connecticut Curiosities, 3rd Edition is part of a GPP homegrown series of state-specific books that describe, with humor and affection—and a healthy dose of attitude—the oddest, quirkiest, and most outlandish places, personalities, events, and phenomena found within the state’s borders and in the chronicles of its history. A fun, accessible read for travelers and non travelers alike—a great armchair book with quirky b/w photographs throughout and maps for each region. They can be thought of as combination almanacs, off-the-wall travel guides, and wacky news gazettes, all with a decidedly humorous twist. The narrative is good-naturedly humorous. Connecticut Curiosities, 3rd Edition is filled with humorous state facts and amusing stories and sports a visually varied, browsable design (with sidebars, archival photos, etc.). Part zany Connecticut guidebook and part Who's Who of odd and unsung heroes, this compendium of the state's quirks and characters will amuse Connecticut residents and visitors alike.




The Heart of Central New York


Book Description

In The Heart of Central New York: Stories of Historic Homer, NY Martin A. Sweeney makes the past come alive through this collection of articles from his column in The Homer News. Through his writing, Sweeney offers readers a glimpse of the excitement he brought to his classrooms by bringing to life the people, events, manners, and mores of the past in a community that is the heart of Central New York State. This compilation represents Sweeney’s successful efforts as a public historian in using the press as a tool for generating interest in his community’s unique historical identity.With annotations and a touch of humor, this book illustrates for current and emerging public historians how to successfully engage a community in acknowledging their history matters—that the fibers of “microhistory” contribute to the rich tapestry that is county, regional, state, and national history.










Undaunted Curiosity


Book Description

Enjoy a leisurely cruise in a 54 yacht on the rivers, lakes, waterways and canals of the United States and Canada, from New York City up the Hudson, thru the Erie Canal to Lake Ontario, then zigzag down the St. Lawrence River thru the Thousand Islands to Montreal. The cruise then moves across Ontario and Quebec to Hull and Ottawa on the Ottawa River into the historic 1820s Rideau Canal and its 45 colorful Lock Parks. This spectacular scenery of central Ontario leads back to Lake Ontario, at Kingston, then via the 55 locks of the Trent-Severn Waterway thru Canadas cottage-country lakes to gorgeous Georgian Bay. Here the journey turns south to Detroit, via Lakes Huron and St. Clair, then around Michigans thumb, to Sault St. Marie and Lake Superior. Moving across the Great Lakes to Chicago leads to the Illinois River into the Mississippi. The entire length of that mighty River then is cruised and described. Other tributary rivers explored town-by-city-by-town are the St. Croix, Ohio, Muskingum, Kentucky, Green, Kanawha, Allegheny, Monongahela, and Arkansas, most to their head of navigation. The White, Black, Atchafalaya, the West Gulf Intracoastal Waterway from Morgan City to Mobile, and the Tenn-Tom Waterway from Mobile Bay north to Columbus, Mississippi then follows, in detail. 190 marine charts and illustrations and 23 pages of color photos provide details of the magnificence encompassed in this book. The scenic wonders and delights of 16,000 miles of Americas Waterways are explored and exposed, showing off America the Beautiful.